Colin Munro departs for a duck against the West Indies. Photo / Getty
Liam Napier looks at five key talking points from the Black Caps' five -run win over West Indies.
Who would be a death bowler?
Kane Williamson gambled at the death and almost lost. Going all-out attack with trump cards Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult, in the hope of taking the
one final scalp, was the right tactic but it didn't quite come off. Matt Henry and Jimmy Neesham would not be the first choice death bowlers but they were then left to finish the job. When Henry went for three successive sixes, 25 runs, from the 48th over, the game was suddenly the West Indies to lose. Henry, who finished with 1-76 from nine overs, will have nightmares about the Windies, having clocked a century in the warm up match in Bristol against the same opposition. Fortunately, Neesham stepped up with four dot balls to frustrate Carlos Brathwaite into swinging for one final blow to end the match. Trent Boult took a brilliant catch on the boundary, and the rest is history. There will, however, be lingering concerns about New Zealand's ability to cope with power hitting such as this. And would Henry have been trusted to bowl the final over?
It ain't over till it's over:
Carlos Brathwaite, what an innings. At 211-8 and 245-9 chasing 292 for victory, the West Indies were done. Dead and buried. Surely? No one told Brathwaite. With 101 from 82 balls that included five sixes and nine boundaries, it almost deserved to be the match-winning knock. Brathwaite scored all 41 runs of the final wicket partnership. If he had his time again, no doubt he would take more time and pick the right ball to finish the job. He had done all the hard work. Time was on his side. Then again, there were only inches and Trent Boult's hands between him and glory. The ecstasy and agony of sport was there for all to see as Brathwaite collapsed to his knees. Ross Taylor had to help him to his feet, such was the disappointment at falling agonisingly short.
